Criminal Defense in Pensacola to Property Crimes and Burglary Offenses

In Florida, property crimes are taken very seriously. In most cases, when an individual is charged with a property crime, his or her potential punishment will depend on the value of the property he or she is accused of damaging, or whether or not the individual committed the offense with the use of a fire arm. In order to avoid the potentially severe penalties, contact a property crime defense lawyer in Pensacola, Florida, at Christopher L. Rabby, P.A..

If you have been arrested and charged with committing criminal mischief, trespassing, burglary, or any other property crime, it is vital that you contact an experienced property crime defense attorney as soon as possible. Chris Rabby, of Christopher L. Rabby P.A. is a knowledgeable defense attorney who serves clients in and around Pensacola, and Milton, Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. If you have been charged with a property crime, contact Chris Rabby today at (850) 437-9410 to set up a consultation about your case.

Property Crimes in Escambia and Santa Rosa County:The definitions of property crimes or property offenses are laid out in the Florida Statutes.Some of the most common property crimes that occur in and around Pensacola, Florida County are:

Criminal Trespass: According to Fla. Stat. § 810.08, an individual is guilty of this offense if he or she willfully enters a building or property without authorization or invitation, or is invited onto a property and refuses to leave after being told to do so. This offense usually results in first or second degree misdemeanor charges. However, if the offender is in possession of a weapon or firearm at the time of the crime, the charges can be upgraded to a third degree felony.

Criminal Mischief: Fla. Stat. § 806.13 states that an individual can be charged with criminal mischief if he or she vandalizes or damages the property of another. An individual can also be charged with this offense if he or she places graffiti on property belonging to someone else. Depending on the value of the damage, an individual can be charged with a first or second degree misdemeanor, as well as a third degree felony.

Arson: When an individual damages a building or structure with the use of fire or explosion, he or she can be charged with arson (Fla. Stat. § 806.01).This offense is typically a second degree felony, but can be upgraded to a first degree felony if the building was occupied at the time the offense occurred.

Burglary: This offense occurs when an individual unlawfully enters into a building or structure for the purpose of committing an offense (Fla. Stat. § 810.02). If the alleged offender entered an unoccupied building, he or she can be charged with a third degree felony. If the building was occupied at the time, this offense is considered a second degree felony. If the individual is in possession of a firearm while committing the offense, and/or also commits anassault or battery he or she can face first degree or life felony, punishable by a life sentence.

Penalties for Property Crimes in Pensacola

Fla. Stat. § 775.082 and § 775.083, the penalties are as follows:

Second degree misdemeanor: Up to 60 days behind bars, and/or a fine up to $500First degree misdemeanor: Up to a year in jail, and/or up to a $1,000 fineThird degree felony: Up to five years of imprisonment, and/or a fine up to $5,000Second degree felony: Up to 15 years in prison, and/or up to a $10,000 fineFirst degree felony: Up to 30 years or life in prison, and/or a fine up to $10,000Life felony: Up to life imprisonment and/or fine up to $15,000

If you have been charged with a property crime, your Escambia County property crime lawyer may be able to find mitigating factors that could lead to having the charges against you reduced. This could lead to a substantial decrease in the potential penalties you could be facing.

If you have been charged with a property offence or property crime in Pensacola, contact Chris Rabby today at (850) 437-9410, to set up a consultation about your case.Contact us online now!